Blessing of the animals in Nicaragua

By Photos by Associated Press and Getty Images

on March 17, 2013 8:00 PM

Photo: Esteban Felix/Associated Press

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A boy holds his dog wearing a costume during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associate Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A boy holds his dog wearing a costume during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March 17, 2013.

A boy holds his dog wearing a costume during an animal blessing... Photo-4339837.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A woman holds their dressed dogs during a mass for San Lazaro, on March 17, 2013, in the neighborhood Monimbo in Masaya, 30 km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua, faithfuls ask for the health of their dogs at San Lazaro and they pay these favors back bringing them dressed in costumes to attend mass in honor of the saint.

A woman holds their dressed dogs during a mass for San Lazaro, on March 17, 2013, in the neighborhood Monimbo in Masaya, 30 km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua, faithfuls ask for the health

A woman holds their dressed dogs during a mass for San Lazaro, on... Photo-4339845.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A parishioner holds a dog in front of the image of San Lazaro, during a mass in his honor, on March 17, 2013, in Monimbo neighborhood, in Masaya, 30km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua, faithfuls ask for the health of their dogs at San Lazaro and they pay these favors back bringing them dressed in costumes to attend mass in honor of the saint.

A parishioner holds a dog in front of the image of San Lazaro, during a mass in his honor, on March 17, 2013, in Monimbo neighborhood, in Masaya, 30km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua,

A parishioner holds a dog in front of the image of San Lazaro,... Photo-4339846.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A woman holds her dressed dog during a mass for San Lazaro, on March 17, 2013, in Monimbo neighborhood, in Masaya, 30km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua, faithfuls ask for the health of their dogs at San Lazaro and they pay these favors back bringing them dressed in costumes to attend mass in honor of the saint.

A woman holds her dressed dog during a mass for San Lazaro, on March 17, 2013, in Monimbo neighborhood, in Masaya, 30km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua, faithfuls ask for the health of

A woman holds her dressed dog during a mass for San Lazaro, on... Photo-4339844.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A parishioner holds a dog in front of the image of San Lazaro, during a mass in his honor, on March 17, 2013, in Monimbo neighborhood, in Masaya, 30km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua, faithfuls ask for the health of their dogs at San Lazaro and they pay these favors back bringing them dressed in costumes to attend mass in honor of the saint.

A parishioner holds a dog in front of the image of San Lazaro, during a mass in his honor, on March 17, 2013, in Monimbo neighborhood, in Masaya, 30km south of Managua. According to tradition in Nicaragua,

A parishioner holds a dog in front of the image of San Lazaro,... Photo-4339843.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A man holds a dog in costume up to a statue of San Lazaro during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A man holds a dog in costume up to a statue of San Lazaro during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday,

A man holds a dog in costume up to a statue of San Lazaro during... Photo-4339853.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A woman holds her dog in costume during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A woman holds her dog in costume during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013.

A woman holds her dog in costume during an animal blessing... Photo-4339852.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A man holds up his dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A man holds up his dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in

A man holds up his dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor... Photo-4339851.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A man holds up his dog, dressed as a baby sitting in a stroller, close to a statue of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, during a ceremony at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A man holds up his dog, dressed as a baby sitting in a stroller, close to a statue of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, during a ceremony at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday,

A man holds up his dog, dressed as a baby sitting in a stroller,... Photo-4339850.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A boy smiles for pictures as he holds his dogs wearing costumes on the feast day of Saint Lazarus, known as a protector of animals, in particular dogs, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Parishioners dress up their pets for the Catholic church ceremony and ask the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A boy smiles for pictures as he holds his dogs wearing costumes on the feast day of Saint Lazarus, known as a protector of animals, in particular dogs, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya,

A boy smiles for pictures as he holds his dogs wearing costumes on... Photo-4339849.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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Women carry their dogs wearing costumes in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets before a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

Women carry their dogs wearing costumes in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated

A woman holds her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A woman holds her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in

A woman holds her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor... Photo-4339847.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A woman makes the sign of the cross as she holds her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A woman makes the sign of the cross as she holds her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday,

A woman makes the sign of the cross as she holds her dog during an... Photo-4339840.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A man holds up his dog, dressed as a baby sitting in a stroller, close to a statue of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, during a ceremony at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associate Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A man holds up his dog, dressed as a baby sitting in a stroller, close to a statue of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, during a ceremony at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday,

A man holds up his dog, dressed as a baby sitting in a stroller,... Photo-4339836.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A woman holds up a her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A woman holds up a her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March, 17, 2013. Catholics in

A woman holds up a her dog during an animal blessing ceremony in... Photo-4339841.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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A man holds up his dog wearing a military costume and a small picture of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associate Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

A man holds up his dog wearing a military costume and a small picture of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the

A man holds up his dog wearing a military costume and a small... Photo-4339838.58590 - San Antonio Express-News

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Pet owners hold their dogs in costumes during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Catholics in Nicaragua associated Saint Lazarus with dogs, and dress up their pets for a Catholic blessing, asking the saint to keep their dogs healthy.

Pet owners hold their dogs in costumes during an animal blessing ceremony in honor of Saint Lazarus, patron of the sick, at a church in the Monimbo neighborhood of Masaya, Nicaragua, Sunday, March 17, 2013.